Sorting machine



Sept. 26, 19391 L. MOMON SORTING MACHINE Filed May 1, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w m u #U P m A A z x n R N Lr 1w E c fi :ii-ii--l-i-:wfiw% an WWNWLWWM-WAMNWL-MMM/L INVENTUR Louls MOMON ATTURNEH' Se t.- 26, 19,39.

LLMOMON SORTINQ MACHINE Filed May 1, ,1936

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIII l/mwra/a 5 L1. MOMON iorations in the part of the selected card Patented Sept.s6, 1 93 9 soa'rmomcmna mammoa'mme aumerwsmae w ul dlmtnnnentsdc Precision, a cor- France amass m, 1.10:0, Serial No. 17,425 v In France April 3, 1988 2 Claims. (01. zoo-110 In the sorting machine known heretofore, sorting is generally carried out in the following manner: An exploring member explores either simulcolumn at a time. b The passage of the exploring member at the place where a perforation is situated then results in the release of electrically or mechanically operated classifying members.

.Since, however, this sorting. tion has no other usefulness bu work of the analytical machin'e,eiforts' have been made by various means to incteasedhe performance of the sorting machine. One of these is to carry out a simultaneous operation -on several columns of holes, thus providing a multiple selection device.

a This method is advantageous when a search has to be made among cards disseminated in a batch ca ying a code number comprising several figures. -This advantage however is limited in the known methodsto the. extraction of a single.

group of cards groups as the machine comprises sorting compartments, that is to say. generally twelve. Fin-thermore, it becomes likewise easy to eifect at the same time, that is to say in a single passage of the cards through the machine, a selection of .two groups in the compartments 11- and 12 (that is to say, in the compartmentsin excess over those which correspond'to zero and the nine significant figures) and a dclmalsortin'g, in the compartments to 9. It is equally possible to carry out any other combination of simultano sorting and selection, for example allocate six ompartments for selection and six compartments for sorting, and so forth.

By way of example-of the first case (selection of groups of-cards of a number equal to that of the sorting compartments), taking a batch of 100,000 cards in which the twelve groups to be selected constitute 50% of the whole and carry an index of six figures, if astandard sorting machineds employed,

sages and the stroyed.

twelve passages are n with, theoretically;

of the cards at least on each e, represea in b 0 passages or cards, that is a instead or 000,000, in a to say, muchjgi'eater of to be single card,-.each being numbered six passages are necessary 1r the knownlselection device is employed,

passed, but there m the advantage that the preestablished classification is not destroyed. By means of the device according to the invention, this advantage is retained together with that of only eii'ectingone passage of 100,000 cards (instead oi twelve passages totalling 1,175,000

cards) In the second case (selection of two groups ofcards) the advantage is also considerable, especially if the selection has to be followed by a sorting operation in an already known order. The old device would necessitate a first passage of all the cards, then a second with the remainder, that is to say the whole of the cards minus the first group already extracted. By 15 employing the means according to the invention, these two selections may be eifected simultaneously with the first sorting, that is to say, ,the time necessary for the selection opcrationis practically nil, since such selection is efiected during sorting. The saving realized, which is of the order of 50 to 75% of the useful working time, still remains very appreciable.

. Taking the example of abatch of 100,000-cards may appear that each group is constituted by a from 1 ,to e 100,000. In practice this is ,not the-case and there is, so to speak, neverfian absolute conso that 36 v tinuity in the numbering of the groups, a given batch may only comprise a few hundreds of diii'ere'nt groups, some of which are'very numer- -vantageous to employ the method described for a first elimination of these twelve groups, sort.-

ing being carried out normally on the remainder,

which gives for a first passage-100,000 cards, then 50,000 for six successive passages, that is altogether. 400.000 passages instead of 000,000

whence a saving of 33% on the cost.

If the most important-groups are onlysix in number, each amounting to 5%, simultaneous selection and sorting will be carried out during.

the first three passages, the selection being efiected for two groups at a time. We shall thus have: 1st passage -"1'00,00o cards' i 100,000 2nd passage *100,000cards-'10,000= 90,000 3rd e m 90,000 cards-10,000= 80,000 4th passage 80,000 cards-10,000: 70,000 I 5th passage 10,000 cards 10,000 55 6th passage 70,000 cards r 70,000 'Iotal. 400,000

bearing a codification index on six columns, it 25 5.001 the known o the cards through the sorting machine, it was a still impossible to carry out the reverse operation, that is to say, it was not possible to replace each of the cards of the selected group in its original place.

On the other hand, since the selection operation could not be made simultaneous :with a sorting operation and since such selection was only possible for a single group, the application only oifered very limited possibilities under quite special conditions.

The device according to the invention is shown by way of examplein the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a diagram showing thearrangement of the relays and electrical connections.

Figure 2 is a table showing the control of the relays.

Fig.8 is adiagram of a more complete arrangement including the device of Fig. 1.

The device according to the invention substantially comprises a certain number of relays, each being provided with a series of contacts insulated from one another, the number of the said series being subordinate to the numberof re-' ceptacle compartments of the machine, unless it is intended to send a plurality of groups .of selected cards into the same compartment, in which case the maximum number of the groups to be selected will determine the number of series of contacts.

Four relays, allowing of fifteen combinations taken two at a time are therefore suificient for the'figures 0 to 9, but there is nothing to prevei t the number of relays being greater, in order rovide any desired alphabetical or alphanumerical combinations, whereby in particular it is no longer necessary to resort to the heretofore indispensible codification of alphabetical texts.

Each of the contacts is constituted by three blades, an input blade, an output blade and the third an intermediate blade oscillating between the other two. The four contacts of any one series are themselves connected in series in the following manner: The input blade of the first to one pole of .the source of current and the output blade to the input blade of the following contact. The same applies to all the other, the output of the last contact being connected to the control device of the receptacle compartment or to the electromagnet of the sorting blades.

The intermediate blade of each contact is connected to the common terminal of a threeway switch. Each of the other two ways comprises a series of contact studs arranged in opposition to each other, all the studs of the same series being connected together and each series being likewise connected either'to'the input blade or output blade of the corresponding contact.

The function of this switch is to form a branch path for the initial electric current so as to complete the circuit which is interrupted between two of the three blades alternately, according to whether the electro-magnet of the corresponding contact has or has not been energized.

A circuit is thus pre-established which can. only be completed for a single index, irrespective of the number of electro-magnets energized 0.1.2.3. f

[It will be appreciated that the device is practically unlimited with regard to the number of elements constituting it.

Each of the electro-magnets of these various relays will receive its energization from the exploring'pins or brushes, to which the said electro-magnet will be connected in accordance with the predetermined combinations.

The switches will be set in advance in accordance with the number or the word or the alphabetical, numerical orlike combination according to whichthe selection is to be effected.

A- constructional diagram of a' device as described in the foregoing and as shown in Figure 1 will be described by way of example.

Each of the relays D, C, B, A is connected to an exploring member of a group of four on the basis of an arbitrarily fixed combination, for example as shown in the table of Figure 2.

This table shows for each figure, the reciprocal energization of the relays D, C, B, A marked by an X in the corresponding square. I

Figure 1 shows how a complete selection circuit is established.

The intermediate blade I of each contact occupying the position E or the position It according to whether the corresponding electro-magnet is or is not energized. The diagram shows in heavy as example (energization of the electro-magnets D and A according to the table in Figure 2),. In dotted lines, the same diagram shows the same path for the figure 8- (energization of the electromagnets C and A) The four'rotaryswitches are disposed in such a manner that a circuit can only be complete when the relay or relays representing the figure lines the path of the current for the figure '1 taken The relays may be energized simultaneously-or consecutively according to whether the card is explored by a plurality of exploring members (stationary card) or by only one exploring member (card in continuous movement) In both the first and second cases, it is possible to operate on slngle'perforations, one hole symbolizing a figure, or on combined perforations, a figure being represented by two or more holes.

In each case, the connections will differappreciably. With simultaneous exploring, the control of the classifying or diverting member may be direct, while the successive exploring of various positions of perforations will require a maintaining circuit for each relay. I

This circuit for maintaining the energization of the relay will replace the direct energization from the exploring member, the relay having to retain its energized position until the end of the cycle. The control of the member directing the card will then be obtained at that moment by is a commutator completing ment). The circuits for maintainingenergiziv.

tion are likewise only necessary in that case.

On the contrary, if thecardis explored all at once (stationary card and multiple exploring members) these various members are unnecessary.

It follows that, in; the case of the employment of four relays giving fifteen possible combinations, the. simplest control is obtained by combinations of. four holes and four exploring members. exploring being effected all at once. The alphabetical and alpha-numerical combinations not described are obtained in the same way by employing six relays instead of four. I

It was noted in the text dealing with the description of Fig 1, that the current at the common entry point of a series of relays and of a series of contactors, passes, dependingon the position of each of the wipers of the relays and of each of the contacto relay or through the contactor. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3, there is shown, combined with a single feeler device and a single series of relays, a plurality of selector devices controlling slides distributed in ofi'set manner along the path of the cards. The set of "relays wipers controlled by the relays.

" of four relays J of a a includes as many groups of relays as there are figures in the numbers marking the perforated cards and in one group four {relays correspondto the four perforations which represent, ac-

to the code of Fig. 2, the various values figure of this reference number. Each selector device comprises, a series of contactors, having for eachlgroup of relays a position-contactor adjustable around its shaft and a series of The card is shown in wiping (feeler) position to the right or Fig. 3. as a rectangle shown by the dot-dash lines G. It is perforated, according' to the code of Fig. 2, for the number by means of the perforations located in columns A B C D on a line m, n-or p for each of the figures 71s or s. In this feler position, -each of ,the lines m, n, p of perforations is at the same height as a line of four brushes 0; those brushes which find a perforation and enter it come, in each line 1 n, p, in contact with a bus-bar connected by a common wire to the positive pole of a source of current.

From the four brushes of "each line extend the wires of a cable 1? which pass to the windings letter as that line. Thus, the four wires of brushes AB C D of the line meterminate atthe win s of four relays (likewise marked by the letters A B C D of the group J i (m). The other terminal of all of the windings of, the series of relays is connected by a common wire to the negative pole. Considering the first. group J (m) of relays; it will be seen that the armature of each relay carries several wipers 4:. These, therefore, form several series. The series of wipers located at the same height in the three groups ofrelays J on; '(n), J (m are marked either through thegroup marked by the same by Roman numerals I, II, III, which indicate the series of contactors that belong to the same 'selectordevice. To each wiper q correspond two contact blocks corresponding to the two positions of its armature, indicated by the letters, E and B, as shown in Fig. i. The stationary point and the contact blocks of the four wipers q of a series (I, for example) are connected electrically by means of contact brushes with the contactor cylinder H shown above the group of relays under discussion. Each cylinder H carries peripheral segments'r (embedded in insulating material) which are arranged along generatrices regularly distributedon the circumference, each being electrically connected to a continuous ring d situated on either side .in accordance with the layout of the circuit of Fig. 1. To each wiper q of-series I of group J (m) there corresponds a peripheral segment r and two rings d. The contact segments rof the cylinder are, in the case or each pair of rings, connected either to the lefthand ring or to-the right-hand ring, depending on whether, on the pair of lines d which'serve to j represent these rings in Fig. l, the segment which is on the line of one of the: indicia at the left of the diagram happens to be on the left or right-hand line of the pair'of lines under discussion. The number 'of different indicia in Fig. 1 being equal to 14, it is assumed that, the circumference of the cylinder is divided 'into 14 equal parts, the segments 1- being on corresponding generatrices. The latter are indicated by an index in front-of .thc graduations on .a drum in-' tegral with the cylinder. Along the upper generatrix of the latter are disposed "four brushes 0 in contact with the segments of the generatrix indicated by the index on the graduated Each of these brushes c is electrically connected to the stationary point of one of the four wipers q of the same selector device, while the pairs ofsegments of these wipers are connected to brushes 1 in contact with the pairs of rings d.

'- In acor'dance with the embodiment discussed" and according to the circuit of Figs. 1 and 3,

. the cylinder H under discussion'is in the position corresponding to the figure 7. The' lefthand brush 0 is in contact with a segment 1',

which,. as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is connected to the left-hand ring of the first pair of rings d. Likewise, the fourth brush c is connected to the left-hand ring'of the fourth pair, while the second and third brushes are connected to-the right-hand brush of the second and third pairs. It can likewise be seen, according to Fig. 3, that the left-hand brush of the first pair is connect ed through the intermediary of the corresponding brush i an'd a horizontal wire to a lines. which acommutating cylinder t provided with a contact segment serves to connect with the positive pole of a source of current. 'Further more,the brushes 1 correspondingt'o the 'righthand ring of a pair and to the left-hancl' ring of the following pair, are interconnected be-' tween themselves. The last 'brush y' to the right of a cylinder is connected to "the first'brush 1' of the following cylinder. The last brush 9' of a series 01'. contactors H is connected, through the intermediary of a switch T, to the winding of a relay 8, which is itself connected to the negative pole. The armature of this relay controls the trap of a slide (not shown).

It is to be noted that the series of wipers of the different groups of relays mas be of any desired number, the scheme of connections just described being' repeated for each series of wipers and a cor-- responding cylinder. Fig. 3 shows completely the connections dealing with two series of wipers and two series of contactors-that is, two selector devices operatingtwo slides placed in the path of the perforated cards.

The operation of the device is as follows:

It is assumed, in the embodiment selected, that it is desired to drop into the slide corresponding to the selector device I, the cards which correspond to the number 768 in a series of cards which pass beneath the feeler (wiper) device. The settings of the three contactor cylinders of series I are adjusted to the positions corresponding respectively (starting from the left)- to the figures 7, 6 and.8, this being the position illustrated, the commutating cylinder t-being in current passing position. It is assumed that a card (3' perforated with the number 768 has arrived beneath the wiper. device. According to the code shown in Fig. 2 theline m carries perforations in columns A and D, the line n in column A, and the line p in columns A and C. It follows that the corresponding brushes 9 are in contact with the bars m, n, p, which are corrected to' the positive pole. The corresponding wires of cable F carry current and the windings of the corresponding relays will be energized: in group J (m) relays A and D; in group J (n) relay A; and in group J (p) relays A and C. The corresponding armatures are "attracted and their wipers q are applied against the segments E in all the series of wipers. Thereupon the position of the wipers q is determined by the perforations of the card that is being wiped. The connections established'in group I have been shown in heavier lines to indicate the position of the cylinders of this group and the position of the corresponding wipers. The circuit is as follows:

+ pole, cylinder t, lines s, left-hand brush j of the first pair, contact segment 1' of the first periphery, first brush 0, wiper q of column D, segment E of this column, segment R of column 0, wiper q of column C, third brush 0, corresponding 7', fourth series ring d, fourth brush 0, segment E of column A, segment R of colunm D of group J (n), wiper, first brush 0, then through the heavy line connections of group Jn, and issuing therefrom to group Jp to segment R of column D of group Jp, wiper, first brush 0, through heavy line connections of group J1) and issuing therefrom through segment E of column A, switch to T in connection position, winding of relay S of group I, The relay, being energized, attracts its armature and causes the slide to tilt as the card G passes.

It is assumed in the embodiment shown, that the upper cylindersare set to zero" position. It follows that all cards perforated with the figure zero will control, by their perforations, during passage, the energization of" the relay D in each of the groups Jm, Jn and Jp, which will establish a circuit between the line s connected to 'the pole, the winding of the relay S of device II and the negative pole. and slide will open to receive the card corre- At that instant, the sec-.

sponding to the figure zero. The card will not fall into the first slide, which opens only for the number 768. In fact, as pointed out, for the fig- 'ure zero", in each group, only the relay D is energized. Consequently, the wiper q of the column A of group J m is in contact with the segment R of the first series and the energizing circuit of relay S of the first slide I is interrupted at this point.

By turning each of the cylinders-of a series of contactors, it is possible at any moment to change the number for which the relay S of thecorresponding selector device is energized-that is, the indicia which serves to present the card to determine, by its passage beneath the wipers, the opening of the slide of this selector device.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for separating from cards carrying perforated indications of numbers composed ,of a plurality of figures those which carry indications of a given number, comprising series of sensing elements, groups of relays the windings of which are respectively electrically connected to each of the sensing elements, each of the relays of a group being provided with an interrupter having a resting contact, an excitation contact and an oscillating armature for making contact with one or the other of said contacts, a switch for the relays of each group, said switch being manually regulatable and having in correspondence with each relay two series of contacts, the contacts of each series being connected together, a common contact member connected withthe articulated armature of the interrupter of the corresponding relay, and a double brush for insuring the connection between the common contact and one or the other of the two series of contacts, the switches being connected in series in the circuit for exciting an electro-magnet controlling a receiving compartment.

2. An apparatus for separating from cards carrying perforated indications of numbers composed of a plurality of figures those which carry indications of a given number, comprising devices mounted in parallel each including series of sensing elements, groups of relays the windings of which are respectively electrically connected to each of .the sensing elements, eachof the relays of a group being provided with an interrupter having a resting contact, an excitation contact and an oscillating armature for making contact with one or the other of said contacts, a switch for the relays of each group, said switch being 

